The quote comes from a piece by American Enterprise Institute research fellow John C. Fortier, in an opinion piece published in The Hill today. Fortier writes that DeLay has been doing all he can to send the message: "'Keep the seat warm; I’ll be back.' But at the end of the day, these tactics are unlikely to succeed."

Fortier says that for DeLay to stay in power he needs to get back his majority leader position. But to get that he needs to get immediate dismissal of charges against him, which is unlikely. But to get that the Abramoff scandal still looms. And even if he survives that he might not weather the caucus' wrath of Republicans lose seats in the midterm elections in 2006.

Writes Fortier:

DeLay’s political future depends on the equivalent of a royal flush. He must beat the Texas indictment quickly and return to his position of majority leader, fight off rivals who want his post, avoid taint from the growing Abramoff scandals and avoid a setback in the 2006 midterm elections. Don’t bet on it.